Canin Scent Hound (3.5e Template)

Author: Halloweenman33 (talk) Date Created: 2/22/17 Status: Finished, but open to improvement suggestions Editing: Clarity edits only please

Rate this article Your rating for this article: Favor Like Neutral Dislike Oppose Submit | Cancel Discuss this article

Canin Scent Hound

Scent Hound and Sight Hound. Scent Hounds rely on scent far more than they do sight and have the most sensitive noses of any Canin or other canine-like creature.

Canin come in many different breeds and many of these breeds fall into different categories, similar to regular dogs. The hounds can be further divided into two subcategories: Scent Hound and Sight Hound. Scent Hounds rely on scent far more than they do sight and have the most sensitive noses of any Canin or other canine-like creature. Scent Hounds typical have long, droopy ears and loose, moist lips. Some hounds are born as Scent Hounds while others, even if they are members of a breed that would technically qualify, obtain the template later through rigorous training to increase their abilities.

Creating a Canin Scent Hound

Canin Scent Hound is an inherited or acquired template that can be added to any Canin or dog-like humanoid or monstrous humanoid (hereafter referred to as the base creature) whose breed (chosen at character creation) is a hound that would qualify as a scent hound. A Scent Hound uses all the base creatures statistics and abilities except as noted here.

Size and Type

The base creature’s size and type remains unchanged. Do not recalculate BAB, Saves, or Skill Points

Hit Dice

Same as base creature

Speed

Same as base creature

Armor Class

Same as base creature

Attack

Same as base creature

Full Attack

Same as base creature

Special Attacks

Same as base creature

Special Qualities

A Scent Hound retains all of the special qualities of the base creature and also gain those described below.

Improved Track: Scent Hound Canin can always take a 10 when using the Track feat in conjunction with Scent, even in stressful situations that would not normally allow them to do so. They can move at normal speed at no penalty, but still take a -20 penalty for moving at twice their normal speed (Scent Hounds are slow and methodical anyway). Their DCs for Survival checks when using Scent are decreased by 5. Their DCs of Survival checks when using Scent only increase by +1 for every 3 days since the trail was made and their DC modifiers for Poor Visibility are halved (rounded down) since they are not relying on sight anyway.

Super Tunnel Vision: While tracking with Scent, the folds of skin on the Canin Scent Hound’s head slide down over his eyes (if their faces are droopy enough to have them), blocking his vision from everything except for exactly in front of him. This allows them to focus on following the trail that they have picked up. Those that don’t posses this extra skin still develop this deep focus, but by concentrating so hard that they go into a trance aimed at following the scent. However, this tunnel vision causes them to be so focused on Tracking that they become unaware of their surroundings. A Canin Scent Hound following a trail is very easy to ambush as he is so focused that he won’t notice the attack until it is too late (he takes damage) and can’t hear his companions shouting warnings. Canin Scent Hounds following a trail have been known to walk straight through hazardous areas unaware of any danger until it is too late and have even walked straight off cliffs. While using Survival and Track in conjunction with Scent, Canin Scent Hounds take a -40 Penalty to all Listen and Spot checks not directly related to their target. Unless they get extremely lucky on a Spot or Listen roll not directed toward their target, only physical intervention, either by taking damage or one of his companions physically stopping him, will break the Scent Hound’s concentration.

Expert Tracker (Su): Scent Hounds are such good trackers that if they can double back and try again if they make a mistake. When making Survival checks to track by Scent, Canin Scent Hounds are treated as though under the effects of the Bloodhound spell (Complete Adventurer page 144)

Certain breeds also gain additional special qualities as described below

Basset Hound:

Big-Boned: Basset Hounds automatically gain the benefits and penalties of the Bones of the Bassett Hound (3.5e Trait) Trait, appropriately enough. If you are not using traits, simply apply Powerful Build and rename the penalties as Sink Like a Stone

Grounded: While it is not as severe as their problems with swimming, Basset Hounds have difficulty jumping due to their bone density. They are treated as always wearing super heavy armor for the purposes of Armor Check Penalties to Jump checks, taking a -15 effective Armor Class Penalty to Jump checks. They do not gain the other problems that Swim does though.

Bloodhound:

Super Sniffer: Much like their canine namesake, the Bloodhound Canin has the most powerful sense of smell of all the Canin. Their DCs for Survival checks when using Scent are decreased by a further 5 (to a minimum of 0). Their DC’s for Survival checks when using Scent only increase by +1 for every week since the trail was made. Their DC modifiers for Poor Visibility are halved again (rounded down to a minimum of 0) since they barely use their eyes at all while tracking (their skin folds slide down over their eyes, giving them tunnel vision directed to their trail) and their DC modifier for fresh snow cover since the trail was made is only +5.

Abilities

+2 Wisdom, -2 Dexterity: Scent Hound Canin are wise in the ways of tracking, but are slower and more methodical than other Canin

Skills

+4 Innate Bonus on Survival checks

Feats

Scent Hound Canin gain Improved Scent and Uncanny Scent as bonus feats

Environment

Same as base creature

Organization

Same as base creature

Challenge Rating

+2

Treasure

Same as base creature

Alignment

Same as base creature

Advancement

By character class

Level Adjustment

+1

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Monsters → Templates